The morning of the first of September Lizzie woke to find her belongings already packed, clothes laid out and bath water already drawn. She had no idea how the house elf had managed to get into her room and do all of that without waking her.

Lizzie took her bath, dressed and braided her hair, with one of her new hair ribbons, before joining the Malfoys in the dinning room for breakfast.

"Happy Birthday, Elizabeth." Narcissa said as Lizzie sat down. Lizzie had nearly forgotten that is was her birthday, because she was so excited about school.

"Thank you Mrs. Malfoy." Lizzie smiled at Mrs. Malfoy and then at Draco across the table. When she looked down at her plate she was surprised to pancakes with sprinkles baked into them and whipped cream on top. The same pancakes that were given to students on their birthday at Hogwarts.

Lizzie looked back up at Draco with a look that clearly said 'How?' Draco shrugged. "I told the cook. I guessed that you probably got them on your birthday as well." Draco half smiled. "Now just eat the silly pancakes." Lizzie grinned and ate her pancakes

Upon arriving at Platform 9 3/4 Lizzie wandered off from Draco and his parents, without them noticing. She stood on her toes and spun in small circles. Something that she often did when she was waiting or excited.

While spinning a fourth year Hufflepuff boy snagged her sleeve and stopped her. "Lizzie? I knew it was you. Your the only person who I have ever met that walks on her toes like that. What are you doing on the platform? I would have thought you would have already been at the castle."

Lizzie smiled up at the tall boy. "Hello, Cedric." Cedric Diggory was one of the Hufflepuff students who often played with Lizzie. "I spent the last part of the summer with the Malfoys. It was a good summer. They were very nice. And I get to ride the train. And cross the lake in the boats."

Cedric scoffed. "The Malfoys? Nice? Not likely." He shook his head. "I mean I know you started hanging out with him and his friends last year, but I never expected you to spend the summer with then. Sure, your dad is a Slytherin, but your not Lizzie."

"How could you say that Cedric? You don't even know them." Lizzie stopped standing on her toes and stood flat. Her forehead wrinkled.

"Sure, I guess. But I do know they are Slytherins Lizzie. And you're not. I promise you that." Cedric flicked Lizzie's forehead. "See you at the castle Lizzie," he said before walking away and boarding the train.

Lizzie hadn't quite finished processing her encounter with Cedric when Draco found her. "Lizzie, why did you wander off? You scared my mother half to death."

Lizzie snapped out of her half trance and looked at Draco. "Sorry. I didn't mean to. I was just so excited."

Draco took Lizzie wrist and half dragged her back to his mother. "I found her. She was half way down the platform talking to some Hufflepuff boy."

"Its good you found her Draco. Now you two get on the train, before it leaves." Narcissa hugged her son, but he didn't really hug her back. Narcissa then patted Lizzie's head. "You have a good year."

"We will Mother. Now can we go?" Draco seemed a little impatient to get away from his parents.

Lucius Malfoy gestured towards the train. "Yes. Go Draco. And take care of our little Slytherin Princess."

Draco grabbed Lizzie's wrist again. "Come on, Lizzie. Let's go." The two walked off and boarded the train. They found Crabbe and Goyle already in a compartment and they joined them. Lizzie thought that the two boys had somehow gotten even larger over the summer.

Lizzie watched out the window as the train pulled away from the station. She smiled at all the parents waving at their children and a few, mostly mothers, were even crying. Lizzie felt a little empty as she knew that she would never see her own mother waving her goodbye for the year. Nor would her dad ever actually say goodbye; the life of having a professor for a parent.

She talked with the boys for a while. Talking about her and Draco's trip to France and even about the last week. Draco said that he had enjoyed having Lizzie there; that made Lizzie smile.

Soon after eating lunch from the snack trolley, Lizzie fell asleep against the window. Draco let Lizzie sleep, and as they neared Hogwarts he gently rubbed Lizzie's knee. "Hey Ginger Snap. Wake up. We are almost there."

Lizzie rubbed her eyes before opening them. She looked at Draco and then looked out the window. A grin crept across her face as she saw the castle all lit up. She didn't know what to say, so she just grinned.

When they pulled into the Hogwarts station Draco and the boys left Lizzie with the other first years. Many of the first years whispered in small groups of people who they met on the train or who they knew before. Lizzie stood alone, walking and spinning on her toes again.

It wasn't until Hagrid shuffled the group to the boats that Lizzie spoke to anyone. She climbed into a boat with two other girls. One girl was blonde and seemed to be dreaming, and the other Lizzie remembered seeing at Flourish and Blots.

"Your Lizzie right?" Said the girl from the bookstore. Lizzie nodded and smiled. "My brothers, Fred and George have told me about you. They said you are great a looking out for Mr. Filch while they play pranks. I'm Ginny."

Lizzie giggled a little thinking about the twins. "Nice to meet you Ginny. I like the twins. They are nice to me."

The dreamy girl turned to the other two. "I'm Luna Lovegood," was all she said before going back to apparently dreaming. Lizzie and Ginny both giggled just a little then both watched as the castle came closer and closer.

When they landed on the edge of the lake all the first years crawled out of the boats and then were shuffled into the entry hall where Professor McGonagall was waiting for them.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she began but Lizzie had heard this speech so many times that she could recite it. She looked around at the other students in the mix; nobody really stood out to her.

When McGonagall finished her speech they were moved into the Great Hall. The other first years gasped in astonishment, but Lizzie didn't. She had seen it all before, but that didn't mean she wasn't excited. She could see the Sorting Hat on its stool waiting for each student to try on.

Lizzie bit her lip as a long rip in the hat became a mouth and the hat began its song.

Today has come once again,

The day I venture out,

The day that I alone,

Choose where you belong.

Four founders built our school,

To teach you all they could,

To make you smart and brave,

and loyal and cunning too.

Hufflepuffs are loyal and resourceful,

Particularly good finders.

Ravenclaws wise and true,

A book is their great friend.

Slytherins are cunning and ambitious,

Having pride in all they do.

And as for Gryffindor, brave and noble,

Courageous until the end.

Four houses each with their own skill,

Each important is their own way,

And each a part of life.

So put me on your head,

And let us see where you belong.

The hat went still and silent. Lizzie let out a breath that she didn't know she had been holding. Her eyes wandered the room until they made contact with Severus. The corners of his mouth twitched and he nodded at Lizzie. Lizzie half smiled at her adoptive father; she had made a decision on the train and she wasn't going back on it now.

Professor McGonagall began the sorting. She called names in alphabetical order. Creevy, Colin a small boy was first and was sorted into Gryffindor. Lizzie rocked back and forth on her heels, waiting for her turn. She knew she would be close to the end.

Luna Lovegood was sorted into Ravenclaw; not a bad place to be at all. Soon after her McGonagall called, "Snape, Elizabeth." Lizzie bit her lip again and looked at her father before taking the steps towards the hat.

She sat on the stool and the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. She was not at all surprised when the Hat began to speak to her. "I wondered when you would cross my path, Ms Potter." Half a thought went through her head. "Yes, I know who you are, and no, the rest can not hear us. Now let us see. You have taken quite a liking to those Hufflepuff friends of yours. You are incredibly loyal. I do believe you would do well there."

"No!" Lizzie shouted in her head. "You have to put me in Slytherin. I have to be in Slytherin. I want to be in Slytherin."

The Hat was silent for a moment; it was shocked. Not often did students ask for Slytherin. Gryffindor, yes. But Slytherin? Not often. "Now why is that?" The hat asked Lizzie and she began to think of all the secrets her and Snape had. How she was his daughter. And she was. He had raised her. "Now I see," said the Hat. "But it is that loyalty to your father and your secret that makes you so perfectly suited for Hufflepuff."

"No. Slytherin. Please." Lizzie thought this statement with all of her power.

"Well if you are sure," the Hat said to Lizzie. "But remember, I placed you in Hufflepuff." Then the Hat vocally announced "Slytherin!" to the awaiting hall.

"Thank you," Lizzie mumbled as she removed the Hat and slid off the stool. She could hear the cheers from the Slytherin table. The groans from the Hufflepuffs and the few mumbles of "No surprise there."

Lizzie looked over to the head table where the teachers sat, but did not find her father there. Her shoulders sunk and smiled slipped just a little as she walked towards the Slytherin table. As she sat next to Draco he squeezed her shoulder. "See Lizzie? I told you, you are a Slytherin."

Lizzie nodded and her smile returned. He was right. She was a Slytherin.

The last few first years were sorted with Ginny joining her brothers in Gryffindor. The feast appeared and Lizzie began to eat. She also watched as Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore leave the hall, and not return for some time. Her father never returned to the feast.

Down in the dungeons Professor Snape was disciplining Harry Potter and Ron Weasley for using a flying car to get to Hogwarts. He had missed his daughters sorting to deal with this dilemma, and that made him all the more angrier.

When Minerva and Albus arrived he had just finished telling they boys that he would expel them if he could.

"Now, Severus," Professor Dumbledore began. "You are letting this get out of hand."

Severus said nothing; he simply stared at the boys. "As the head of Slytherin it is not your place to expel these boys." Professor McGonagall said with a level head. "However, if you wish to expel your daughter, that would be another story."

Snape broke eye contact with the boys and looked at Minerva. "Lizzie was sorted Slytherin?" He was genuinly surprised. He had been banking on Gryffindor; possibly Hufflepuff, but never Slytherin.

"Yes, and it took the Hat quite some time to make that decision. Almost as if the two were having a conversation." Professor Dumbledore said looking right at Snape.

Snape still shocked at this news stood and exited the room, leaving the boys at Minerva's mercy.